Method for telecommunication, identification module and computerised service unit

ABSTRACT

A subscriber, who logs into a visited communication network (VPMN), in particular a mobile network, by means of his communication terminal ( 2 ) and his identification module (SIM) connected thereto, is transmitted, automatically or upon request, (S 1 ) a subscriber identification (IMSI-P) from the number range of the visited communication network (VPMN) (S 2 ). The received subscriber identification (IMSI-P) from the number range of the visited communication network (VPMN) is stored and activated in the identification module (SIM) of the subscriber. The subscriber can afterwards log into the visited communication network (VPMN) as a local subscriber. (sole figure)

[0001] The present invention relates to a telecommunication method aswell as an identification module suitable therefor and a computerizedservice unit suitable therefor. The invention relates in particular to atelecommunication method for logging a subscriber into a visited partnercommunication network, in particular a mobile radio network, anidentification module, in which a subscriber identification outside thenumber range of the visited partner communication network is stored,being connected to the communication terminal of the subscriber.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the field of mobile radio telephony, understood by the term“roaming” is the operation of a mobile communication terminal, forexample a mobile radio telephone or a portable computer withcorresponding mobile radio components, outside the home network. Roamingis used for instance between different GSM networks (Global System forMobile Communication) or UMTS networks (Universal Mobile TelephoneSystem), but also between mobile radio networks which work according todifferent standards. To enable the direct roaming of a subscriberbetween two mobile radio networks, roaming agreements have to beconcluded between the respective operators of the mobile radio networks.In a visited mobile radio network (Visited Public Mobile Network, VPMN),a subscriber is registered in a visitor register (Visitor LocationRegister, VLR) using his subscriber identification (International MobileSubscriber Identity, IMSI) from the number range of his home mobileradio network (Home Public Mobile Network, HPMN), and his location isstored in a home register (Home Location Register, HLR) of the homemobile radio network, i.e. a so-called location update is carried out.

[0003] Described in the patent application WO 98/10614 is atelecommunication method for indirect roaming enabling a subscriber of ahome mobile radio network to connect to a visited mobile radio networkwithout a roaming agreement with the home mobile radio network, theconnection being achieved through means, for example a subscriberidentification (IMSI) and a call number (MSISDN=Mobile SubscriberIntegrated Services Digital Network), which are made available by apartner network having a roaming agreement, on the one hand, with thehome mobile radio network and, on the other hand, with the visitedmobile radio network.

[0004] In the method described in WO 98/10614, each identificationmodule of the subscriber of the home mobile radio network contains twopermanently stored subscriber identifications. A different call numberis assigned to each subscriber identification. The first subscriberidentification belongs to the number range of the home mobile radionetwork, the second to the number range of the partner network. In orderto register in a visited network that does not have any roamingagreement with the home mobile radio network, the subscriber candeactivate the first subscriber identification from the home mobileradio network and activate the second subscriber identification from thepartner network, and is thereby regarded in the visited network as asubscriber of the partner network; thus a roaming process for thevisited network can be carried out via the partner network.

[0005] Since in the method according to WO 98/10614 each subscriberidentification is assigned another, different call number, the callswith the first number for the subscriber have to be redirected with acomplex and time-consuming mechanism. Subscriber-specific data, forexample redirections of calls, additional numbers, etc. are moreoverassigned to the subscriber identification in a completely conventionalway and are thus only available in the home mobile radio network or invisited mobile radio networks having a roaming agreement with the homemobile radio network.

[0006] Described in the patent publication EP 0 990 364 is atelecommunication method for indirect roaming similar to that in WO98/10614. According to EP 0 990 364, however, a common call number isassigned to the first subscriber identification of the home mobile radionetwork and to the second subscriber identification of the partnernetwork.

[0007] Both the conventional standardized method for direct roaming aswell as the above-described method for indirect roaming have thedisadvantage that the subscriber is logged into the visited mobile radionetwork as a foreign subscriber and has to pay significantly higherconnection fees than a local subscriber. Additional costs can also arisein particular when two subscribers from the same home mobile radionetwork who are located in a common visited mobile radio networkcommunicate with each other and the connection thereby is generated viathe home mobile radio network.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0008] It is the object of the present invention to propose atelecommunication method for logging a subscriber into a visited partnercommunication network as well as devices suitable for thistelecommunication method which avoid the drawbacks of the state of theart.

[0009] These objects are achieved according to the present inventionthrough the elements of the independent claims. Further preferredembodiments follow moreover from the dependent claims and from thespecification.

[0010] A subscriber has an identification module connectible to acommunication terminal, in which identification module a firstsubscriber identification is stored which lies in the number range ofthe home network operator of the subscriber or in the number range of aservice provider who offers services of a virtual communication network.Typically, such a service provider of a virtual network has an assignednumber range for subscriber identifications, but does not have at hisdisposal, however, any communication network of his own and/or, in thecase of a mobile radio network, has no license for transmissionfrequencies. The home network operator, or respectively the serviceprovider of a virtual network, has a partnership agreement with theoperator of a partner communication network, in the case of a mobileradio network, e.g. a kind of roaming agreement. The subscriber visitsthe partner communication network with his communication terminal whichis connected to the identification module. When switching on thecommunication terminal in the visited partner communication network, aroaming process is initiated in a conventional way and a location updateis carried out, since the subscriber identification stored in theidentification module lies outside the number range of the visitedpartner communication network.

[0011] The above-mentioned objects are achieved through the invention inparticular in that a second subscriber identification from the numberrange of the visited partner communication network is transmitted from acomputerized service unit to the communication terminal in the visitedpartner communication network, the second participant identification isstored and activated in the identification module connected to thecommunication terminal, and the subscriber is logged into the visitedpartner communication network using the second subscriberidentification. The advantage of the transmission of the secondsubscriber identification to the communication terminal in the visitedpartner communication network is that the subscriber can thereby beturned into a local subscriber of the visited partner communicationnetwork dynamically in any partner communication network since thesecond subscriber identification lies in the number range of the visitedpartner communication network.

[0012] Preferably subscriber identifications from the number range ofpartner communication networks are stored in a database of the serviceunit, a data message with a service request for the second subscriberidentification is transmitted from the communication terminal in thevisited partner communication network via the visited partnercommunication network to the service unit, and the second subscriberidentification is taken from the database on the basis of the receivedservice request and is transmitted via the visited partner communicationnetwork to the requesting communication terminal. Through thetransmission of the service request from the communication terminal tothe service unit, the transmission of a second subscriber identificationfrom the number range of the visited partner communication network canbe initiated at selectable times, for instance at the initiative of thesubscriber.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment variant, the first subscriberidentification is selected from the number range of the operator of theservice unit, the first subscriber identification is stored, assigned toa call number, in a home register of the service unit, and the secondsubscriber identification is linked in the service unit to that callnumber which is assigned to the first subscriber identification. Throughthe selection of the first subscriber identification from the numberrange of the operator of the service unit and through the storing of thefirst subscriber identification in a home register of the service unit,it is made possible for subscribers to whom a first subscriberidentification has been assigned in each case from the number range ofthe operator of the service unit to be recognized internationally as asubscriber of this operator and for location updates to be transmittedto the home register of the operator when logging into partnercommunication networks, without it being necessary for the operatorhimself to have communication networks at his disposal, but insteadbeing able to be merely a service provider of a virtual network. Throughthe linking of the first and second subscriber identifications with acommon call number it is made possible for the subscriber to be able tobe reached with the same call number in all partner communicationnetworks in which he is logged in. This applies not only to mobile radionetworks, but in particular also to fixed networks in which thesubscriber can log in by means of a subscriber identification.

[0014] In an embodiment variant, cost data are transmitted from thevisited partner communication network to a service unit of the operatoridentified through the first subscriber identification for billing.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment variant, a mobile communicationterminal is used, a mobile radio network is selected as the visitedpartner communication network, and mobile subscriber identifications areused as first and second subscriber identifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention is described in thefollowing with reference to an example. The example of the embodiment isillustrated by the following sole attached figure:

[0017]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating schematically acommunication terminal and a computerized service unit which exchangedata via a communication network.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0018] In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 2 refers to a communicationterminal. The communication terminal 2 is preferably a mobile radiodevice, for example a mobile radio telephone or portable laptop orpalmtop computer with mobile radio components. The communicationterminal 2 could also be set up for connection to a fixed network,however, in particular a digital fixed network, in which subscribers canbe logged in with subscriber identifications, for instance an ISDNnetwork (Integrated Services Digital Network), an IP network (InternetProtocol) or a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) or WAN (Wide AreaNetwork).

[0019] As is shown schematically in FIG. 1, the communication terminal 2is connected to an identification module SIM. The identification moduleSIM is removably connected to the communication terminal 2 via aninterface having contacts, and comprises memory elements, for storingdata elements, as well as a programmable processor and a programmedsoftware module 22, based for instance on the SIM toolkit or on Java(Java is a registered trademark of the company Sun Microsystems Inc.).The functions of the processor and of the programmed software module 22can also be implemented by means of circuits programmed in a fixed way.The identification module SIM is preferably an SIM card (SubscriberIdentification Module) in the form of a chipcard. A subscriberidentification IMSI-F is stored permanently and in a write-protected wayin the identification element SIM.

[0020] In FIG. 1, the reference symbol VPMN refers to a communicationnetwork, preferably a mobile radio network, for example a GSM network(Global System for Mobile Communication) or a UMTS network (UniversalMobile Telephone System) or another terrestrial or satellite-basedmobile radio network. As already mentioned, the communication networkVPMN could also be a fixed network in which subscribers can log in bymeans of subscriber identifications.

[0021] The subscriber identifications are preferably internationallyvalid subscriber identifications, which are typically structuredhierarchically. The subscriber identifications are preferably mobilesubscriber identifications, for instance so-called International MobileSubscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers. In the norm GSM 03.03 of theEuropean Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), for example, theIMSI numbers are defined in fifteen symbols, whereby (as shown in thefollowing Table 1) the first three symbols form the country code (MobileCountry Code, MCC), the following one or two symbols form the networkcode (Mobile Network Code, MNC) and the subsequent ten or eleven symbolsform the subscriber code (Mobile Subscriber Identification Number,MSIN). The first symbols of the subscriber code identify the homeregister (Home Location Register, HLR) in which the data for therespective subscriber are stored. TABLE 1 MCC MNC MSIN

[0022] The licensed operator of the communication network VPMN can thusbe assigned a number range within which the subscriber identificationsfor the communication network VPMN can be allocated. On the basis of thesubscriber identification, furthermore, the affiliation of therespective subscriber with a communication network, or respectively withits operator, can be determined.

[0023] In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 refers to a computerizedservice unit which is connected to the communication network VPMN.Typically, the service unit 1 is not connected directly to thecommunication network VPMN, but instead via connecting networks and/orswitching centers. The service unit 1 comprises one or more computers, aprogrammed software module 12, a database 11 and preferably a homeregister HLR, which are implemented on the computer or computers. Storedin the home register HLR are subscriber identifications IMSI-F′ ofsubscribers who can thereby identify themselves for services of theservice unit 1. As is shown schematically in FIG. 1, the subscriberidentifications IMSI-F′ are each assigned a call number MSISDN in thehome register HLR. Stored in the database 11 are subscriberidentifications IMSI-P from the number range of partner communicationnetworks, for instance the communication network VPMN. These subscriberidentifications IMSI-P are assigned to the operator of the service unit1 on the basis of partnership agreements with operators of partnercommunication networks, for example as number range or set of individualnumbers.

[0024] When the subscriber, with his communication terminal 2 and theidentification module SIM connected thereto, visits the communicationnetwork VPMN, the IMSI-F, stored permanently in the identificationmodule SIM, is transmitted to the visited communication network VPMNupon activation of the communication terminal 2. The subscriberidentification IMSI-F is preferably from the number range of theoperator of the service unit 1, where it is stored in the home registerHLR. The subscriber identification IMSI-F, however, could also be fromthe number range of a network different from the visited communicationnetwork VPMN and be stored in the home register of this other network.Since the subscriber identification IMSI-F is not from the number rangeof the visited communication network VPMN, a conventional roamingprocess is initiated. The subscriber identification IMSI-F is therebystored in a visitor register (not shown) (Visitor Location Register,VLR) of the visited communication network VPMN and a so-called LocationUpdate is carried out, whereby the location of the visiting subscriberis transmitted to the home register identified by the IMSI-F, forexample to the home register HLR in the service unit 1.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, in a first step S1, a service request for asubscriber identification from the number range of the visitedcommunication network VPMN is transmitted from the communicationterminal 2 via the communication network VPMN to the service unit 1.This service request is transmitted by means of a data message, forinstance an SMS message (Short Message Service) or a USSD message(Unstructured Supplementary Services Data). The data message isgenerated by the programmed software module 22, for instance afteractuation of a predefined function key, or it is entered by the user bymeans of the operating elements 21.

[0026] The data message with the service request is received andanalysed in the service unit 1 by the software module 12. On the basisof the received data message, the software module 12 can determine thecommunication network VPMN visited by the subscriber, and take from thedatabase 11 a corresponding subscriber identification IMSI-P from thenumber range of the visited communication network VPMN, and, in step S2,transmit it to the communication terminal 2, for example in a datamessage, as was indicated above for the service request. If thesubscriber identification IMSI-F of the requesting subscriber isregistered in the home register HLR of the service unit 1, the softwaremodule 12 establishes in addition a link of the assigned subscriberidentification IMSI-P to the call number MSISDN which is assigned to thesubscriber identification IMSI-F of the requesting subscriber in thehome register HLR. The subscriber can thereby be reached in all visitedpartner communication networks VPMN under the same call number.

[0027] For the case where the subscriber identification IMSI-F of thesubscriber is registered in the home register HLR of the service unit 1,optionally the subscriber can also be assigned and transmittedautomatically subscriber identifications IMSI-P from the number range ofa visited communication network VPMN by the software module 2 <sic.> assoon as a location update concerning the subscriber has been received inthe service unit 1 from the visited communication network VPMN. Forexample, this option can be specified in the home register HLR of theservice unit 1 for the subscriber.

[0028] In the communication terminal 2, the data message with thesubscriber identification IMSI-P from the number range of the visitedcommunication network VPMN is received by the software module 22 and isstored in the identification module SIM as temporary subscriberidentification IMSI-T. The temporary subscriber identification IMSI-T ispreferably stored in a write-protected way so that it cannot bemanipulated by the subscriber. The permanently stored subscriberidentification IMSI-F is deactivated by the software module 22, thetemporary subscriber identification IMSI-T activated, respectively. Theactivation, respectively deactivation, takes place, for instance, bysetting, or respectively removing, flags assigned to the temporarysubscriber identification IMSI-T and to the permanent subscriberidentification IMSI-F in each case. The activation of the temporarysubscriber identification IMSI-T, respectively the deactivation of thepermanently stored subscriber identification IMSI-F, can be undone bymeans of user-selectable functions of the software module 22, forexample. The temporary subscriber identification IMSI-T can thereby beoptionally erased or left in the memory for later reactivation. Usingthe activated temporary subscriber identification IMSI-T, the subscribercan log himself into the visited communication network VPMN, and is thenrecognized by the visited communication network VPMN as a localsubscriber and is entered in the home register (not shown) of thevisited communication network VPMN.

[0029] As is shown in FIG. 1, cost data, for example so-called CallDetail Records (CDR), relating to connections made by means of thetemporary IMSI-T, are transmitted from the visited communication networkVPMN to the service unit 1 in step S3. Stored in the switching center 3of the visited communication network VPMN, in the so-called MobileSwitching Centre (MSC), are subscriber identifications IMSI-P from thenumber range of the communication network VPMN which have been assignedto the operator of the service unit 1 on the basis of a partnershipagreement, the subscriber identifications being assigned to anidentification of the respective operator or to an identification, e.g.an address, of the respective service unit 1. The switching center 3,respectively a correspondingly programmed software module in theswitching center 3, recognizes that the temporary subscriberidentification IMSI-T, by means of which a connection is made, is asubscriber identification IMSI-P which has been assigned to the operatorof the service unit 1, and transmits the cost data to the service unit1. Although the subscriber in the visited communication network VPMN islogged in with a temporary subscriber identification IMSI-T from thenumber range of the visited communication network VPMN, the cost datacan thus be transmitted to the service unit 1 whose operator isidentified preferably through the permanently stored subscriberidentification IMSI-F. In the service unit 1 moreover call processingfees can be billed to the requesting subscriber for the assignment ofsubscriber identifications IMSI-P from the number range of visitedcommunication networks VPMN.

Industrial Applicability

[0030] The present invention can be used for mobile radio telephonyworldwide in connection with mobile radio networks, and also findsapplication in fixed networks in which subscribers are logged in withsubscriber identifications. With the present invention it is madepossible for a subscriber to log in worldwide as a local subscriber invisited communication networks, in particular in mobile radio networks.

[0031] List of Reference Symbols

[0032]1 computerized service unit

[0033]2 communication terminal (mobile radio telephone)

[0034]3 switching center (MSC, Mobile Switching Center)

[0035]11 database

[0036]12 programmed software module

[0037]21 operating elements

[0038]22 programmed software module

[0039] HLR home register (HLR, Home Location Register)

[0040] IMSI-F, IMSI-F′ fixed subscriber identification (FixedInternational Mobile Subscriber Identity)

[0041] IMSI-P subscriber identification from the partner communicationnetwork (Partner International Mobile Subscriber Identity)

[0042] IMSI-T temporary subscriber identification (TemporaryInternational Mobile Subscriber Identity)

[0043] MSISDN call number (Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services DigitalNetwork)

[0044] SIM identification module (SIM, Subscriber Identification Module)

[0045] S1 transmission of the service request for a subscriberidentification from the number range of the visited communicationnetwork

[0046] S2 transmission of the subscriber identification from the numberrange of the visited communication network

[0047] S3 transmission of cost data

[0048] VPMN visited communication network (Visited Public MobileNetwork)

1. A telecommunication method, for logging a subscriber into a visitedpartner communication network (VPMN), an identification module (SIM)being connected to the communication terminal (2) of the subscriber, inwhich identification module (SIM) a first subscriber identification(IMSI-F) is stored, which lies outside the number range of the visitedpartner communication network (VPMN), wherein a second subscriberidentification (IMSI-T) from the number range of the visited partnercommunication network (VPMN) is transmitted from a computerized serviceunit (1) to the communication terminal (2) in the visited partnercommunication network (VPMN), the second participant identification(IMSI-T) is stored in the identification module (SIM), and thesubscriber is logged into the visited partner communication network(VPMN) using the second subscriber identification (IMSI-T).
 2. Thetelecommunication method according to claim 1, wherein subscriberidentifications (IMSI-P) from the number range of partner communicationnetworks (VPMN) are stored in a database (11) of the service unit (1), adata message with a service request for the second subscriberidentification (IMSI-T) is transmitted from the communication terminal(2) in the visited partner communication network (VPMN) via the visitedpartner communication network (VPMN) to the service unit (1), and thesecond subscriber identification (IMSI-T) is taken from the database(11) on the basis of the received service request and is transmitted viathe visited partner communication network (VPMN) to the requestingcommunication terminal (2).
 3. The telecommunication method according toone of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the first subscriber identification(IMSI-F) is selected from the number range of the operator of theservice unit (1), the first subscriber identification (IMSI-F′) isstored, assigned to a call number (MSISDN), in a home register (HLR) ofthe service unit (1), and the second subscriber identification (IMSI-T)is linked in the service unit (1) to that call number (MSISDN) which isassigned to the first subscriber identification (IMSI-F′).
 4. Thetelecommunication method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, whereincost data are transmitted from the visited partner communication network(VPMN) to a service unit (1) of the operator identified through thefirst subscriber identification (IMSI-F) for billing.
 5. Thetelecommunication method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, whereina mobile communication terminal (2) is used, a mobile radio network isselected as the visited partner communication network (VPMN), and mobilesubscriber identifications are used as first and second subscriberidentifications (IMSI-F, IMSI-T).
 6. The telecommunication methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the service request for the secondsubscriber identification (IMSI-T) is transmitted from the communicationterminal (2) in the visited partner communication network (VPMN) via thevisited partner communication network (VPMN) to the service unit (1). 7.The telecommunication method according to claim 1, wherein the firstsubscriber identification (IMSI-F′) is stored in a home register (HLR)of the service unit (1), the first subscriber identification (IMSI-F) istransmitted from the communication terminal (2) to the visited partnercommunication network (VPMN), and upon receipt in the service unit (1)of a location update from the visited communication network (VPMN)relating to the subscriber, the second subscriber identification(IMSI-T) from the number range of the visited partner communicationnetwork (VPMN) is automatically transmitted from the computerizedservice unit (1) to the communication terminal (2) in the visitedpartner communication network (VPMN).
 8. An identification module (SIM)of a subscriber for use in a communication method according to one ofthe claims 1 to 7, which identification module (SIM) is connectible to acommunication terminal (2), in which identification module (SIM) a firstsubscriber identification (IMSI-F) is stored, which lies outside thenumber range of a partner communication network (VPMN), comprising meansto: receive a second subscriber identification (IMSI-T) from the numberrange of a visited partner communication network, which was received bythe communication terminal (2) in the visited partner communicationnetwork (VPMN) from a computerized service unit (1), store the secondsubscriber identification (IMSI-T) in the identification module (SIM),and log the subscriber into the visited partner communication network(VPMN) using the second subscriber identification (IMSI-T).
 9. Theidentification module (SIM) according to claim 8, wherein it comprisesmeans to generate a data message with a service request for the secondsubscriber identification (IMSI-T) and to transmit the generated datamessage by means of the communication terminal (2) via the visitedpartner communication network (VPMN) to the service unit (1).
 10. Theidentification module (SIM) according to one of the claims 8 or 9,wherein it is connectible to a mobile communication terminal (2), andthe first and the second subscriber identification (IMSI-F, IMSI-T) isin each case a mobile subscriber identification for identifying thesubscriber in a mobile radio network.
 11. A computerized service unit(1) for use in a communication method according to one of the claims 1to 7, which is connectible to a communication network (VPMN),comprising: a database (11), in which subscriber identifications(IMSI-P) from the number range of partner communication networks (VPMN)are stored, and means of transmitting one of the subscriberidentifications (IMSI-T) to a communication terminal (2) which visitsone of the partner communication networks (VPMN).
 12. The computerizedservice unit (1) according to claim 11, wherein it comprises means to:receive data messages via partner communication networks (VPMN) fromcommunication terminals (2) in visited partner communication networks(VPMN), the data messages containing service requests for subscriberidentifications (IMSI-T) from the number range of the respective partnercommunication networks (VPMN), take subscriber identifications (IMSI-T)from the database (11) on the basis of the received service requests,and transmit the taken subscriber identifications (IMSI-T) via thepartner communication networks (VPMN) to the requesting communicationterminals (2).
 13. The computerized service unit (1) according to one ofthe claims 11 or 12, wherein it comprises a home register (HLR) in whichsubscriber identifications (IMSI-F) from the number range of theoperator of the service unit (1) are stored, call numbers (MSISDN) beingassigned in each case to the subscriber identifications (IMSI-F), andthe service unit (1) comprises means for linking a subscriberidentification (IMSI-T), transmitted to a requesting communicationterminal (2), from the number range of a partner communication network(VPMN) to that call number (MSISDN) which is assigned to the subscriberidentification (IMSI-F) from the number range of the operator, whichidentification identifies the requesting subscriber.
 14. Thecomputerized service unit (1) according to one of the claims 11 to 13,wherein the communication network (VPMN) is a mobile radio network, andthe first and the second subscriber identifications (IMSI-F, IMSI-T) areeach mobile subscriber identifications for identification of thesubscriber in the mobile radio network.
 15. The computerized serviceunit (1) according to claim 11, wherein it comprises a home register(HLR) in which subscriber identifications (IMSI-F′) from the numberrange of the operator of the service unit (1) are stored, and itcomprises means: to receive location updates relating to communicationterminals (2) in the visited partner communication networks (VPMN) viathe partner communication networks (VPMN), and to transmit automaticallysubscriber identifications (IMSI-T) from the number range of visitedpartner communication networks (VPMN) via the partner communicationnetworks (VPMN) to respective communication terminals (2) in the visitedpartner communication networks (VPMN) upon receipt of location updatesfor respective communication terminals (2).